14 DAY TRIAL // A new report delivered by the European Environment Agency this past June 3 says that, in 2012, the European Union released its lowest amount of greenhouse gas emissions on record.
Specifically, the Agency says that, when compared to overall emissions documented across all member states back in 2011, the ones reported in 2012 were about 1.3% lower.
This means that, when a 1990 baseline is taken into consideration, the amount of greenhouse gas emissions that the European Union released two years ago was an impressive 19.2% lower, specialists explain.
On its website, the European Environment Agency details that, in sheer numbers, the drop in emissions documented across all member states since 1990 until present day is one of 1,082 metric tons.
By the looks of it, this 1,082 metric tons reduction is the equivalent of Italy's and the United Kingdom's combined greenhouse gas emissions for the year 2012, the Agency argues in its report on the matter at hand.
Researchers say that, all things considered, the fact that member states have managed to improve on their ecological footprint to such an extent need be linked to investments in clean energy sources and in curbing emissions from transport and industry.
Interestingly enough, it appears that some countries have done a much better job greening up their act than others. Thus, Italy alone is argued to be the one to thank for as much as 45% of the European Union's drop in emissions in 2012.
By comparison, Germany and the United Kingdom were not exactly what some would call environmentally friendly in 2012. On the contrary, both countries burned a tad too much fossil fuel, and ended up releasing more emissions than in previous years.
Commenting on the findings of this report, Hans Bruyninckx, the Agency's Executive Director, said, “The EU has demonstrated that there is no conflict between a growing economy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”
Furthermore, “Policies have been at the heart of this success. We need to go even further, but this will depend on countries implementing policies which already map a path towards a low carbon, energy secure society.”
Given its surprisingly low greenhouse gas emissions in 2012, the European Union is believed to be well on track to meet its target to cut emissions by 20% when compared to 1990 levels by the year 2020.
“This puts the EU within reach of its 20 % reduction target, with eight years to go until the 2020 deadline,” the European Environment Agency writes in a press release on its website.